Ceremonial plug closure and package

ABSTRACT

A closure includes a plastic shell having a base wall and a skirt with at least one internal thread segment for threaded engagement with at least one external thread segment on a container neck finish. A stopper, preferably of natural or synthetic cork, is secured to the base wall within the skirt and has an outer surface for sliding fit within the inside diameter of the container neck finish. An annular seal is disposed on the base wall surrounding the stopper within the skirt for sealing engagement with an end surface of the container neck finish. The closure can readily be removed from the container neck finish by unthreading the closure shell and pulling the plug from the container neck finish. The sliding fit between the external surface of the stopper and the inside diameter of the neck finish is sufficiently tight to provide a popping sound as the closure is removed from the neck finish.

The present disclosure relates to a stopper with threaded closure forthreaded engagement with a container neck finish and to a package thatincludes such a closure.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Stopper or plug-type closures, including natural or synthetic cork, whenused in combination with carbonated and non-carbonated beverages,provide a “popping” sound when removed from the container that addsceremony to the occasion. However, conventional stopper-type closurestypically require tools such as a corkscrew to remove the closure andcan be difficult to remove under the best of circumstances. Conventionalclosures also can be pushed up and/or out of the container neck finishby fermentation carbonization breaking the seal of the package.Conventional closures also can allow oxygen to enter the containerthrough the stopper and/or at the interface of the stopper and theinside surface of the neck finish. A general object of the presentdisclosure is to provide a closure for assembly to a container neckfinish, and to provide a package that includes such a closure, that iseasy to remove from the container neck finish and provides theceremonial popping when the package is opened, and/or offers opportunityfor greater sealing, tamper evidence and/or barrier properties as neededby a particular beverage product.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can beimplemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A closure in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosureincludes a plastic shell having a base wall and a skirt with at leastone internal thread segment for threaded engagement with at least oneexternal thread segment on a container neck finish. A stopper is securedto the base wall within the skirt and has an outer surface for slidingfit within the inside diameter of the container neck finish. An annularseal is disposed on the base wall surrounding the stopper within theskirt for sealing engagement with an end surface of the container neckfinish. The closure can readily be removed from the container neckfinish by unthreading the closure shell, which will move the stopper upthe finish and remove the closure from the container neck finish with afinal completing pull by the consumer. The sliding fit between thecylindrical external surface of the stopper and the inside diameter ofthe neck finish is sufficiently tight to provide a popping sound as theclosure is removed from the neck finish. The threaded closure providesthe benefits of an improved seal and stopper retention when used withcarbonated or fermented beverages. The stopper preferably is ofsynthetic resin construction, and can include active and/or passivebarrier resins to retard migration of gases, water vapor and/orflavorants. The closure can provide tamper evidence if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantagesand aspects thereof, will best be understood from the followingdescription, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a package in accordance withone exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a package in accordance with asecond exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 3-5 are fragmentary illustrations of embodiments of the presentdisclosure that include linerless seals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a package 10 in accordance with a first exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure as including a closure 12 appliedto the neck finish 14 of a container 16. Neck finish 14 has one or moreexternal thread segments 18. (The term “thread segments” is employed inits usual broad sense to include both single and multiple threads, andto include both continuous and discontinuous threads.) Container 16including neck finish 14 can be of glass or plastic construction.

Closure 12 includes a plastic closure shell 20 having a base wall 22 anda skirt 24. Base wall 22 preferably is circular, and skirt 24 preferablyis a cylindrical skirt extending from the peripheral edge of base wall22. Skirt 24 has one or more internal thread segments 26 for threadedengagement with external thread segments 18 on container neck finish 14.A tamper band 28 or other tamper-indicating means optionally can befrangibly connected to an edge of skirt 24 remote from base wall 22 forengagement with an external bead 30 or the like on neck finish 14 for atleast partially separating band 28 from skirt 24 and thereby indicatingthat package 10 has been opened. Tamper band 28 or othertamper-indicating means, when provided, may be of any suitableconstruction. Additional or alternative tamper evidence can be employedas desired.

A plug or stopper 32 is secured to the undersurface of base wall 22within skirt 24, preferably concentrically with skirt 24. Stopper 32 canbe secured to closure shell base wall 22 by adhesive, spin-welding orother suitable means. Stopper 32 has a external surface 34 in slidingsealing engagement with the inside diameter of neck finish 14. Externalsurface 34 preferably is substantially cylindrical and can have a slighttaper. Stopper 32 can be solid, porous or multilayer, and can be ofnatural cork or synthetic resin material. Stopper 32 preferably is ofsynthetic resin construction. Synthetic resin stoppers are disclosed,for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,221,451 and 6,911,171. An annular sealis disposed on base wall 22 surrounding plug 32 within skirt 24. In theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the annular seal is an annular gasket 36or 36 a. Gasket 36 can be of any suitable flexible resilient sealingmaterial, preferably synthetic resin material, and can include one ormore active and/or passive barrier resin to retard migration of moisturevapor, gases and/or flavorants into or out of the container. Annulargasket 36 is disposed for opposed abutting sealing engagement with theannular end surface 38 of container neck finish 14. Gasket 36 can beseparately fabricated and laid into the closure shell. Gasket 36alternatively can be compression molded in situ within the closureshell. As a further option, gasket 36 and stopper 32 can be of one-pieceintegrally molded plastic construction as illustrated in FIG. 2compression molded within the closure shell, or fabricated separatelyand inserted into and secured to base wall 22 of closure shell 20.

The primary seal of package 10 is between annular gasket 36 (or gasket36 a in FIG. 2, or the linerless seals illustrated in FIGS. 3-5) and endsurface 38 of neck finish 14. The sliding fit between stopper surface 34and the inside diameter of neck finish 14 preferably provides asecondary seal that is only sufficient, in combination with internalpressurization of package 10, to provide a “popping” sound when openingpackage 10. Internal pressurization of package 10, containing acarbonated beverage 39 or an otherwise pressurized interior, expandsstopper 32 into sealing engagement with neck finish 14. However threadsegments 18, 26 function easily to start movement of stopper 32 withinneck finish 14 so that closure 12 can readily be removed by hand.

FIG. 2 illustrates a package 40 in accordance with a second exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. Reference numerals in FIG. 2 thatare identical to those employed in FIG. 1 indicate correspondinglyidentical or related components. The primary difference between package40 in FIG. 2 and package 10 of FIG. 1 is that the neck finish of package40 includes a plastic fitment 42 that is secured to container 44. Suchsecurement preferably is by means of an internal bead 46 on fitment 42being received by snap fit over an external bead 48 on container 44.Fitment 42 includes external thread segments 18, end surface 38 and theinside diameter engaged by stopper external surface 34. FIG. 2 alsoillustrates a modification in which stopper 32 and gasket 36 a areformed as one piece, either within or separately from closure shell 20.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate exemplary embodiments in which annular gasket 36 or36 a is replaced by a linerless sealing feature. In package FIG. 3, anannular linerless seal 36 b extends from shell base wall 22 forengagement with the outside edge and top of end surface 38. In package54 of FIG. 4, an annular linerless seal 36 c extends from base wall 22for engagement with end surface 38. In package 56 of FIG. 5, annularV-ring seals 36 d extend from base wall 22 for engagement with base wall22. Other linerless seal configurations could be employed.

There thus have been disclosed a closure and a package that fullyachieve all the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosurehas been presented in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, andadditional modifications and variations have been discussed. Othermodifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to personsof ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. Thedisclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variationsas fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

1. A closure for application to a container having a neck finish with atleast one external thread segment, an end surface and an insidediameter, said closure including: a plastic shell having a base wall anda skirt with at least one internal thread segment for threadedengagement with the external thread segment on the container neckfinish, a stopper secured to said base wall within said skirt, saidstopper having a cylindrical outer surface for sliding fit within theinside diameter of the container neck finish, and an annular seal onsaid base wall surrounding said plug within said skirt for sealingengagement with a surface of the container neck finish.
 2. The closureset forth in claim 1 wherein said annular seal includes a sealinggasket.
 3. The closure set forth in claim 2 wherein said sealing gasketis of synthetic resin construction.
 4. The closure set forth in claim 3wherein said sealing gasket includes barrier resin to resisttransmission of gases, water vapor and/or flavorants.
 5. The closure setforth in claim 3 wherein said stopper is of synthetic resinconstruction.
 6. The closure set forth in claim 5 wherein said stopperand said sealing gasket are of one-piece integrally molded plasticconstruction.
 7. The closure set forth in claim 6 wherein said stopperand said sealing gasket include barrier resin to resist transmission ofgases, water vapor and/or flavorants.
 8. The closure set forth in claim1 wherein said annular seal is a linerless seal that is of one-piececonstruction with said shell.
 9. The closure set forth in claim 1wherein said stopper is of synthetic resin construction.
 10. The closureset forth in claim 9 wherein said stopper includes barrier resin toresist transmission of gases, water vapor and/or flavorants.
 11. Theclosure set forth in claim 1 including a tamper band frangibly connectedto an edge of said skirt remote from said base wall.
 12. The closure setforth in claim 1 wherein said stopper is of natural cork or syntheticresin construction.
 13. A package that includes: a container having aneck finish with at least one external thread segment, an end surfaceand an inside diameter, a closure that includes: a plastic shell havinga base wall and a skirt with at least one internal thread segment inthreaded engagement with said at least one external thread segment onsaid neck finish a stopper secured to said base wall within said skirt,said stopper having an outer surface in sliding engagement with saidinside diameter of said neck finish, and an annular seal on said basewall surrounding said stopper within said skirt for sealing engagementwith said end surface of said neck finish.
 14. The package set forth inclaim 13 wherein said annular seal includes a sealing gasket.
 15. Thepackage set forth in claim 14 wherein said sealing gasket is ofsynthetic resin construction.
 16. The package set forth in claim 15wherein said sealing gasket includes barrier resin to resisttransmission of gases, water vapor and/or flavorants.
 17. The packageset forth in claim 15 wherein said stopper is of synthetic resinconstruction.
 18. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said stopperand said sealing gasket are of one-piece integrally molded plasticconstruction.
 19. The package set forth in claim 18 wherein said stopperand said sealing gasket include barrier resin to resist transmission ofgases, water vapor and/or flavorants.
 20. The package set forth in claim13 wherein said annular seal is a linerless seal that is of one-piececonstruction with said shell.
 21. The package set forth in claim 13wherein said stopper is of synthetic resin construction.
 22. The closureset forth in claim 21 wherein said stopper includes barrier resin toresist transmission of gases, water vapor and/or flavorants.
 23. Thepackage set forth in claim 13 wherein said closure shell includes atamper band frangibly connected to an edge of said skirt remote fromsaid base wall, and wherein said neck finish includes an externalabutment for engagement by said tamper band during removal of saidclosure from said neck finish at least partially to separate said tamperband from said skirt.
 24. The package set forth in claim 13 wherein saidneck finish includes a plastic fitment secured to said container, saidfitment including said at least one external thread segment, said endsurface and said inside diameter.
 25. The package set forth in claim 13wherein said stopper is of natural cork or synthetic resin construction.26. The package set forth in claim 13 including a pressurized productwithin the container, removal of said stopper creating a popping soundat said package.